Prevention Guidelines, Ages 2 to 18

Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your child's health. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Below are guidelines for these, for children and teens from ages 2 to 18. Talk with your child's healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on what he or she needs.

Screening

Who needs it

How often

Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections

Sexually active females up to age 24 years

Once a year

High lead level

Children who are 6 years of age and younger

Questions to determine risk or blood tests may be done once a year

HIV

Children in this age group at risk for infection; talk with your child’s healthcare provider

At routine exams

Obesity

Assessment of obesity risk for all patients

At routine exams

Tooth decay and other dental problems

All children in this age group

Dental exams every 6 months; fluoride supplements from age 6 months to 16 years for those with low fluoride levels in their water; fluoride varnish should be applied every 3 to 6 months; fluoride rinses may be used in children age 6 years or older, if they are able to rinse and spit

Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

Children age 10 or over who are overweight or obese and have 2 or more additional diabetes risk factors

Every 3 years

Blood pressure

All children 3 years of age and older

Annual well child visit

Vision problems

All children in this age group

Screening once between ages 3 and 5 years

Vaccines

Who needs it

How often

DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)

All children under age 7 years

Booster between ages 4 and 6 years

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis)

All children age 7 years or older

Booster between ages 11 and 12 years

Chickenpox (varicella)

Children who have not had chickenpox

Booster between ages 4 and 6 years

Hepatitis A

Children at risk (talk with your child’s healthcare provider) or those who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age

Should be fully vaccinated by age 2; if not, can have vaccine at routine visits, with second dose given at least 6 months after first dose

Hepatitis B

Children who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age

3-dose series: The second dose is given 4 weeks after the first dose, and the final dose is given 16 weeks after the first dose2-dose series: For children ages 11 to 15, 2 doses are given at least 4 months apart

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Children age 11 or 12 years, but may be given beginning at age 9 years through age 26

2-dose series: Ages 9 to 14 years, with second dose 6 to 12 months after the first

3-dose series: Ages 15 to 26, with the second dose given 2 months after the first dose, and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose

Inactivated poliovirus

All children

A final dose between ages 4 and 6 years

Influenza (flu)

All children in this age group

Once a year

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

All children

Second dose between ages 4 and 6 years

Meningococcal (conjugate)

All children

1 dose between ages 11 and 12, and a booster at age 16, or by age 18 if not vaccinated before; only 1 dose is needed if the first dose is given at age 16 years or older; high-risk children should receive a vaccine series before age 2 years